These are some of the most talented musicians in all of Arizona.
With years of experience and 1000s of shows, these guys and gals will have your toes tappin’ from the very first song.
Co-Producer & Musical Director, Guitars, Vocals, Comedy
If you have never seen or heard Mark Lucas, you are in for a treat! Mark is a renowned guitarist (with a degree in classical guitar), a vocal chameleon (his many styles will astound you), and a witty comedian with hilarious timing and unique style. Originally from Texas, Mark’s blues background and soulful roots shine through in every song he performs. We are thrilled that he now brings his musicianship, style, and laser-focus to “The Rhythm Cats” and the shows he helps co-produce here at the Silver Star Theater. This season, you’ll be sure to enjoy the many talented sides of Mark Lucas.
Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, Keyboards, Tap & Vocals
Greg performed at Disneyland as the lead trumpeter with The Side Street Strutters while also touring the US and Europe with that renowned group for over 21 years. Additionally, Greg has been a part of the Brian Setzer Orchestra and was part of a duo with Nils Lofgren (lead guitarist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band). Not only that, but Greg has been a professional tap dancer for over 20 years! Greg’s musical interest sparked at the young age of 5, when under his father’s instruction, he began playing along on the trumpet to Herb Alpert records. He added the piano and guitar as he went on to earn his Bachelor’s in Music Performance at ASU. The Silver Star is honored to have him join us as a key member of The Rhythm Cats!
Vocals
Victoria is thrilled to be a part of Silver Star’s 2019-20 season and you will be thrilled that she brings her talent and energy here! Originally from New York, Victoria has been performing across the country and in AZ for the past decade, including a tour with Grand Majestic Theatre (America’s Hit Parade) in TN and Las Vegas. Additionally, Victoria was a part of the National Tour of Legally Blonde and sailed the high seas with Carnival Cruise Lines as the Lead Showband Vocalist! Other recent local credits include: Aida at Hale Center Theatre, Singing in The Rain and The Music Man at The Orpheum, The World Goes Round at Scottsdale Center of the Performing Arts, Chicago (AriZoni nomination) at FHCT, and Spelling Bee at Phoenix Theatre.
Bass Guitar, String Bass, Saxophone & Vocals
Michael was honored to be “hand-picked” by Andrew Lloyd Webber himself playing Broadway shows CATS, Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. Born and raised in Chicago, Michael studied at the American Conservatory of Music and graduated from Indiana University as a woodwind major, but was equally involved playing bass guitar and string bass. You have also heard Michael’s bass playing for years, even though you didn’t know it, as he was playing on commercials for major airlines, Coors, McDonalds, Sears and hundreds of others. Additionally, Michael has backed up every major act and show performing in the Midwest and became a popular choice in the recording industry recording more than 1,000 commercials, movie scores, and HBO Specials.
Vocals, Guitar
Randall has performed in Las Vegas as the Lead Singer at the Flamingo’s long running City Lites show and as the Principal Singer in Bally’s iconic Jubilee! Originating from Denver, Randall has been to 75 different countries in his showbiz career and we are happy and excited to welcome him to Mesa, AZ!!! Randall has also toured his own one-man show on various cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Lines. He’s also has toured the U.S. in The ABBA Experience, as well as with the Four Seasons tribute show Oh, What A Night. Favorite theatre roles include, Zuko in Grease, Will Rogers in The Will Rogers Follies, and Joe/Josephine/Jr. (the Tony Curtis role) in Some Like It Hot. TV/Film include various commercials, True TV’s All Worked Up, ABC miniseries How the West Was Won, Melrose Place, Rocky IV, and the Las Vegas Tonight Show.
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards & Vocals
As a product of the “babyboomer” generation, Jeff ’s initial passion for music was greatly influenced by the Beatles, and for the past 30 years, we here in Arizona have had the good fortune of enjoying Jeff’s many musical talents. At first, mastering the bass guitar, he began his music career with the St. Louis band “Children” in 1976. After years of touring and playing with countless bands, he’s still not only playing bass, but an average Rhythm Cats Show will find him taking virtuoso turns from acoustic and electric guitar to keyboards, mandolin and ukulele, all the while adding his magnificent vocals.
Drums & Percussion
Born on the East Coast, in New York, Ed began drumming early with the Sea Cadets Drum & Bugle Corp. His family moved to AZ, and soon after, he started playing professionally in restaurants, dance clubs, and resort hotels at the young age of 17. Ed has performed with Hank Thomson, song writer Dale Noe, Toby Keith, and others. He recently backed up Lynn Anderson and has opened for such well-known artists as Willie Nelson, Dixie Chicks, Trace Atkins, Chris LeDoux, Jerry Reed, Kentucky Head Hunters, Little Texas, Steve Wariner, Eddy Raven, Aaron Tippin, and Sawyer Brown.
Vocals
Steel Guitar/Vocals
For 22 years Ken had the best music teacher a musician could have, the Rhinestone Cowboy himself, Glen Campbell. Ken was the only permanent steel guitar player that Glen ever had in his band which must say something about his talents! Ken played steel guitar, mandolin, acoustic guitar and sang backing vocals with Glen. Ken says, “Glen wouldn’t just let anyone sing background harmony vocals; it takes a great ear and a natural talent that can’t easily be taught; you’ve either got it or you ain’t got it.” While touring with Glen, Ken shared the stage with many great performers, including, Vince Gill, Clint Black, Andy Williams, Toby Keith, the Beach Boys, Jimmy Webb, Roy Clark, Buck Owens, the Dixie Chicks, Nicolette Larson, the Smothers Brothers, John Hartford, Willie Nelson and the list goes on. Additionally, Ken has performed in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and all 50 United States, as well as many of the world’s great music venues, including; the Palladium, Wembley Arena, and the Dominion in London, the Sydney Opera House, Harrah’s South Shore Room at Lake Tahoe, the Grand Ole Opry, Caesar’s in Vegas, and now the Silver Star Theater!
Accordion & Yodeler
Recognized as one of the world’s best Alpine yodelers, Kerry was raised on a potato farm in Grace, ID, and had to wander quite a distance to discover his passion–yodeling! A performer from the tender age of three, he has sung everything from western ballads to barbershop music, yet it was during his travels to Austria in 1976 that he discovered the folk music that would be his life. His career really soared when Disney World hired him to work at the German Pavilion of the Epcot Center in 1984. After his experience as the Disney World Yodeler, Kerry, in 1990, headed out on his own and has had great success as one of only 2 or 3 professional, full-time yodelers in the United States. In the summers, you will find him at various German, Swiss, Austrian, Cowboy, Country, and Scandinavian festivals around the U.S. and Canada.
Pianist
Arguably the best pianist in the US (although she would never tell you that), Nicole entertains audiences with her unique blend of virtuosity, humor, and pizzazz. As a pianist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger, Nicole was recently awarded the “Best Local Band/Musician” and has a repertoire consisting of over 12,000 memorized songs. Don’t believe us? Just watch!!! Additionally, Nicole’s YouTube “Happy Birthday Variations” video currently has over five million views. Nicole has performed for Muhammad Ali, George Benson, Ricky Martin, George Bush, Sr., Waylon Jennings, Taylor Hicks, Janet Napolitano, Shaquille O’Neal, Jimmy Carter, Chris Rock, Steve Nash, and Brian Setzer. She has also appeared with American Idol contestant David Hernandez, The Moscow Ballet, The Casts of Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, Mamma Mia, and White Christmas.
Vocals
Singer Rick Lenzi has been impersonating Elvis Presley since his father introduced him to the King of Rock’N’Roll at the tender age of 2. Since that time, Rick has grown to impersonate Elvis, winning many contests throughout the US. He has also been a pre-qualified finalist for the “Images of the King” contest in Memphis. Rick has also appeared on many local and national television shows such as Dick Clark’s “Your Big Break” where he was a semi-finalist. Rick takes his job as an Elvis Entertainer very seriously as he states in his own words: “I am just trying to do the best impersonation I can to help keep the Elvis Presley legacy alive. Over the years he has become one of my musical idols and I just hope that I do him justice. No one will ever replace Elvis Presley but we can help keep his memory alive.”
Vocals
If you like a powerhouse voice that is equally astounding in a variety of different musical styles, then we are sure you will love listening to Jordan Bluth. Trained classically, Jordan has the range, technique and power of an operatic tenor combined with a versatility that is rarely found among singers of his background. Jordan has performed with many operatic and musical theatre companies across the Country, including Glimmerglass Opera, North Shore Music Theatre, Arizona Opera, and Utah Festival Opera. Fans have also seen him as the featured tenor in the regional tour of The Forgotten Carols.
Drums, Percussion, Vocals
“Ds” to his fellow players, has graced international and national stages with his talent since 1983. Having professionally played a variety of musical styles from Broadway to Jazz, Funk to Blues, and Rock to R & B, “Ds” has an innate understanding of grooving. He has toured with George Benson and has also performed with Stevie Wonder, Marion Meadows, Joanie Sledge (of Sister Sledge), and Wynton Marsalis just to name a few. Additionally, D is a clinician at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences in Tempe and Gilbert, AZ.
Woodwinds/Horns/Keyboards
Frank Smith is a multitalented individual. His background includes music, aviation, and psychotherapy. Frank has a Bachelor’s degree in music composition. More importantly, however, are the 50 years of professional experience he brings to our stage. Frank has played with a wide range of internationally known stars, including such luminaries as: Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Coasters, Frankie Valle, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Diamonds, and The Fifth Dimension. In addition, he has been a featured soloist with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and was the woodwind soloist on the ABC Network Television series “Evening Shade.” Outside of the music world, Frank is an instrument-rated commercial pilot, a licensed Psychotherapist, and a certified hypnotherapist. We are sure you will be entranced by his playing with the Silver Star.
Vocals—Swing
Guitar/Vocals
Many of you know JD from his performing here in Arizona. Some of you might remember him from his days with Marty Robbins, or if you spent some time in Nashville, you might know him from there. If you don’t know him yet, come and get acquainted with one of the most talented guitar pickers in the country. He loves playing with Mark Lucas and picking out those great country classics and does a spectacular job as part of the Wild Bunch. You will be amazed at his talent and his down to earth personality! Come prepared to be totally entertained!
Trumpet
One of the Premier trumpet players in the Valley of the Sun, Dave was born and raised in Anderson, IN, where he grew up in a very musical family and started playing the trumpet at an early age. After college, Dave embarked on an 11-year tenure as a lead trumpet player at Walt Disney World, performing primarily with EPCOT’s renowned group Future Corps, as well as the Walt Disney World Orchestra and Fanfare Trumpets for the annual Candlelight Processional holiday show. Dave had regular work at resort conventions and weddings, national TV broadcasts, and filling in as a sub in virtually every other professional band on Disney property in Florida. Since moving to Arizona in 2000, Dave has become one of the busiest freelance musicians in the greater Phoenix area, and the “first-call” lead trumpet player with many nationally touring artists. He keeps busy year-round performing in the orchestra pits of many local theatre venues, having performed for over 120 Broadway musicals, and as a substitute musician for The Phoenix Symphony.
Dave graduated with honors from Anderson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet, and then went on to earn a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance/Jazz Studies from Indiana University.
Piano/Vocals Swing
Rachel brings many talents to the stage, including singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Over the past 30 years, she has performed and recorded extensively throughout North America and Europe with groups and artists, including Sister Sledge and Donna Summer. Rachael studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles where she focused on arranging and composition under legendary orchestrator/composers such as Dick Grove, Nelson Riddle, Clare Fischer, Tom Scott and Lalo Schifrin and has written, produced, and arranged for film and television.
Bass Guitar/Horns
From Cripple Creek, Colorado, Steve, the son of a High School Band Director grew up in a musical family. He was the student conductor and recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Award in high school and earned his degree in music education from the University of Southern Colorado. Steve toured with dance bands during the 70’s, then moved to Arizona where he played with “Cosmo Topper” “Prairie Rose” and other notable bands.
Steve also appeared in a major motion picture with Sally Fields and James Garner, “Murphy’s Romance.” He can play a variety of brass and woodwind instruments including: trumpet, trombone, mellophone, tuba, saxophones and clarinet. Steve has a very versatile voice and is well known in Arizona and Colorado for his Willie Nelson impersonation, he also does a great job on Johnny Cash and many other classic country artists.
